Deep-drawn plastic film packaging



Dec. 5, 1967 z. HOHNJEC 3,355,277

DEEPDRAWN PLASTIC FILM PACKAGING Filed May 31, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Zel Hahn/ac Dec. 5, 1967 Filed May 31, 1966 Z. HOHNJEC DEEP-DRAWN PLASTIC FILM PACKAGING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z. HOHNJEC Dec. 5, 1967 DEEP-DRAWN PLASTIC FILM 'LAUEIAGING 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 31, 1966 FIG/O FIG/l //VVE/VTOP ZELJKO HOHNJEC United States Patent 3,356,277 DEEP-DRAWN PLASTIC FILM PACKAGING Zeljko Hohnjec, Vienna, Austria, assignor to Etablissement Ovotherrn, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, a corporation of Liechtenstein Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 554,097 Claims priority, application Austria, June 4, 1965, A 5,108/65 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-25) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement for packaging in deep-drawn plastic foil comprising two half structures provided with a plurality of cells, the edges of the two halves of the packaging lying upon each other when the packaging is closed and being provided with one piece projections which'fit into each other, one of these projections being provided on its periphery with grooved recesses running parallel to its longitudinal axis, so that several parallel flanges also running parallel to this longitudinal axis are formed by the recesses, which flanges fit flexibly into a common hole-like cavity of the other projection and make a friction contact.

Packaging of deep-drawn plastic foil which consists of two halves essentially the same and joined together by a flange, with hollows for accommodating eggs, fruit or other goods is already known. Such packaging can be produced cheaply in large quantities and is usually thrown away by the user after removal of the goods. When dispatched such packaging is closed with wire stitching or rubber hands after the insertion of the goods. They may be stacked one above the other in cartons or crates yet on stacking the hollows forming protuberances on the outside do not fit into each other, so that some of the space in the cartons or crates remains unused.

Two-part packaging using cellulose is also known, but such packages have the same shortcoming in that they cannot be packed in crates so that space is saved. Such types of packaging are mostly closed by glueing, which also applies to the known three-part packaging, which besides having two portions which accommodate for example, two rows of eggs possess a third cover-like part which is inverted over both said portions and is glued to the edges of said portions.

The object of the invention is to provide packaging of the earlier mentioned sort, but which may be packed in a way that saves space, in which has a fastener which can be opened as many times as required and which closes both halves of the packaging dependably. According to the invention an arrangement for packaging in deepdrawn plastic foil comprises two half structures essentially adapted to accommodate eggs, fruit and other goods; the edges of the two halves of the packaging which come to lie upon each other when the packaging is closed, are provided with one piece projections which fit into each other, and one of these projections has on its periphery grooved recesses running parallel to its longitudinal axis, so that several parallel flanges also running parallel to this longitudinal axis are formed by the recesses, which flanges fit flexibly into a common hole-like cavity of the other projection and make a friction contact.

Such a fastener offers first of all the advantages, that it is already formed during the production of the packaging, during the deep drawing of the accommodating recesses and that occasions no additional costs which hitherto have arisen by using wire stitching or having to use complicated glueing devices for glueing. Thus the packaging of the invention may be immediately closed after removal or inspection of the contents, by which the packaging may be used many times and without using a special closure device.

In accordance with a special form of the packaging of the invention one of the projections has a circular undercut groove and the other projection has a circular perforation with a flange stretching inwards radially, which on the joining together of the two projections catches flexibly in the circular undercut groove.

Another variety of the packaging of the invention exists in that one of the mating projections like a press fastener has at its periphery running parallel to its longitudinal axis groove-shaped recess heads so that several, for example, four flanges connected by the recess heads are formed, which on closure of the packaging flexibly mate in a common hole-like recess of the projection.

By the arrangement of the mating projections the edges of the two packaging halves are positioned at a specified distance from each other, which roughly corresponds to height of both projections. In this way a gap is formed in three sides of the closed packaging, this gap serves to ventilate the goods. It is now shown to be advantageous to arrange at the edges of the packaging halves i.e. between the accommodating recesses at the joints of squares known per se projections which mate when the packaging is closed, the height of which corresponds to the distance of the edges of these packaging halves formed by the height of the fastener-like projection i.e. by the height of the connecting flange. Firstly this assures the support of the edges and assures ventilation even under load. Such a step, however, also makes possible the mating of packaging stacked on each other and filled with goods. Therefore, because the weight of the packing and contents on top is transmitted directly onto the lower packaging, without elfecting the contents which are mostly weight sensitive and very fragile and also in spite of the situation, that the packages fit into each other with almost no space wasted, there is almost contact between the goods which are separated only by thin walls.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the packaging in perspective;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are sectional views including the flanges and accommodating recesses;

FIGURE 4 shows a different form of the closure of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the closure of FIGURE 4;

FIGURES 6 and 7 show a third and FIGURES 8 and 9 a fourth type of closure in section and plan respectively; and

FIGURES 10 and 11 show an arrangement which facilitates the opening of the press-stud fastening in accordance with the invention.

All the embodiments of the invention have a common factor in that two similar halves 1 and 2 are provided which are joined together by a flange 3 forming a kind of a hinge. The packaging is therefore one-piece, that is to say the whole is formed in one manufacturing operation by deep-drawing a plastic film proper. For this automatic machines known per se are used.

The flange 3 has two folds 4 and 5 which bound a flat middle strip 6. The latter can with advantage be used as a surface for the introduction of e.g. firms names, or information concerning the goods inside.

On the edges of the two halves lying opposite flange 3 are arranged protuberances or projections A and B, which mate in pairs like press fasteners in the closed 3 condition of the packaging. Four examples of this are described in more detail.

In accordance with FIGURES 1 to 3 the projection A has a peak 7 like a truncated cone, which is separated from a base part 9 by a circular groove 8. This circular groove 8 thus represents an undercut of the upper surface of the projection, which has an important function when the packaging is closed namely the releasable fastening of the edges of both halves of the packaging.

The projection B provided at the other edge and which works together with the projection A just described is a hollow cylinder 10 of slight conicity, which has at its upper part a round opening 11, which is bounded by a flange 12 which stretches radially inwards. The inner diameter of the flange 12 corresponds almost with that of the circular groove 8, but is somewhat smaller, and in any case less than the largest diameter of the peak 7.

On mating the two projections A and B the flange 12 is somewhat deformed and comes to rest in the circular groove 8, where the peak 7 finds room in the hollow space of the cylinder 10. Thus for closing, only a slight pressure on the edges of the packaging halves is required. Also only a slight tug is required on the edges of the packaging halves to open them although undesired opening does not occur. The closure can practically be opened and closed as many times as one likes, without the firmness lessening.

In accordance with FIGURES 4 and 5, a projection A has four grooves 13 which extend axially and bound four flanges 14. The material in the grooves and also in a central part forming a depression 15 is, after the forming in these places, only a thin skin, whereas the flanges have a satisfactory thickness of material, which they require for stiffness. The purpose of the grooves 13 is to bestow on the flanges 14 a certain centrally directed resilience, when they fit into the appropriate projection B on closing the fastening. This projection again consists of a hollow cylinder 16, which however, as a result of a notch 17 is double-walled. This notch 17 is only like a thin skin.

On closing the fastening each projection A formed by flanges 14 fits in the inside of the projections B like hollow cylinders and brings about a friction closure on its inner walls. It is important that this friction closure can be attained at a number of places along the flange height, with the effect that the closure maintains a more or less large distance between the packaging halves 1 and 2. In this way accommodation for various sizes of goods is possible, where the accommodation is effected automatically on closing the packaging.

The embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 represents a combination of the two previously described fasteners: a hollow cylindrical projection A" is provided with both a circular groove 18 and several flanges 17 extending axially at its periphery. The opposed projection B" mating with A has a ring-shaped flange, similar to flange 12 in FIGURES l and 2, which in the same way as the latter, comes to rest in the circular groove 18. On closing the fastening by using a slight pressure, the flanges 17 bounded by the grooves spring inwards somewhat and ensure an efficient retaining of the packaging halves together in the closed state.

The embodiments shown in the drawing have accommodating recesses 20 which are made up from three truncated cones 21, 22, 23 fitting one inside the other.

In the closed state of the packaging in the above case there are therefore formed six detached double recesses, which form protuberances towards the outside and can accommodate, for example, six eggs. The single eggs are supported in this at the walls of the truncated cones 22. As can be gathered further from the drawing there is formed at the casing of the accommodating recesses projecting grooves 25 turned inwardly, which hold the accommodated egg elastically and resiliently.

At the bottom of the accommodating recesses are, as known per se, depressions 26, which, when required, give an additional cushioning to support the goods therein. accommodated.

The single accommodating recesses are connected one: above the other by hollow flanges, so that eflicient ventilation of the goods is ensured.

At the three open edges of the packaging further pro-- jections 27 are disposed, which keep the two packaging. halves 1 and 2 apart in conjunction with flange 3 i.e. with. the fastening projections A and B. Also there is provided between accommodating recesses disposed in known man-- ner at the corner of a square i.e. protuberances such projections 28 which come to rest one on the other when the packaging is in the closed state.

The packing in accordance with the invention can, by the protuberances fitting into each other, be stacked. practically without wasting space. If several lots of packaging are arranged next to each other in a plane, a similar set of such packaging can be turned, if need be, in their longitudinal plane, stacked with the protuber ances fitting into each other and dispatched in crates.

The flanges between the protuberances and accommo-- dating recesses are formed at least in one direction like a: channel, as this is identified with the reference 29. In this; way are formed surfaces which run parallel, in which the; arms of an automatic packing and closure device can. grip. Finally there are, on the inside of the packaging; halves, several peg-like projections 30 which make it pos sible for the empty packaging still open and placed in: one another to form a stack, to lie at such a distance: apart that the separating of a single piece of packaging, by the packing machine is facilitated.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 the: press button fastener is formed similarly to the one in- FIGURES 4 and 5, only the depression 15 is omitted and. in its place is provided a special conical peg 15', which facilitates the introduction of the projection A into the; hollow cylinder-like projection B.

To increase the friction contact of the projection A'' in the hollow cylindrical projection B' the inner wall of' the projection B' need not be made circularly cylindrical, but, seen in cross-section, lightly corrugated. In this way when the projection A fits into the hollow cylinder B" a slight deformation of the walls is attained, whereby a satisfactory pinch effect is set up.

In FIGURES 10 and 11 a press-stud closure is proposed which is especially easy to open. Each projection. A'" has directly next to it a hole 40 and each hollow cylindrical projection 13" a peg 41. When the packaging is closed on one side the projection A"" fits into hole' B" and peg 41 fits into hole 40. If the peg 41 is pressed with a thumb and at the same time with the index finger" on the projection A the fastening opens. It is advan-- tageous to undertake the opening with the thumb and forefinger of each hand simultaneously at two closurev positions.

The fastener in accordance with the invention is not: only suitable for egg packaging but fundamentally every type of packaging of thermoplastic foil in box form, that is to say in a form in which two parts are to be joined together temporarily.

I claim:

1. Arrangement for packaging in deep-drawn plasticfoil comprising two half structures essentially the same and joined together by a flange with recesses adapted to accommodate eggs, fruit and other goods; the edges of the two halves of the packaging which come to lie upon each other when the packaging is closed, being provided with one piece projections which fit into each other, one of said projections having on its periphery grooved recesses running parallel to its longitudinal axis so that several parallel flanges also running parallel to said longitudinal axis are formed by the recesses which flanges fit flexibly into a common hole-like cavity of the other projection and make a friction contact.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said one projection has a circular undercut groove and the other a circular perforation with a flange directed inwardly, which fits elastically into the circular undercut groove when the two projections mate.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the projection provided with flanges has at its part opposite the base a conical centering lug.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said one projection is cylindrical and wherein the Wall of the said cylindrical projection is corrugated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Fitzgerald 220-31 Bostrom 229-2.5 X Despres 229-29 Greatman 229-25 Noguchi 229-2.S

10 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

1. ARRANGEMENT FOR PACKAGING IN DEEP-DRAWN PLASTIC FOIL COMPRISING TWO HALF STRUCTURES ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AND JOINED TOGETHER BY A FLANGE WITH RECESSES ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE EGGS, FRUIT AND OTHER GOODS; THE EDGES OF THE TWO HALVES OF THE PACKAGING WHICH COME TO LIE UPON EACH OTHER WHEN THE PACKAGING IS CLOSED, BEING PROVIDED WITH ONE PIECE PROJECTIONS WHICH FIT INTO EACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID PROJECTIONS HAVING ON ITS PERIPHERY GROOVED RECESSES RUNNING PARALLEL TO ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS SO THAT SEVERAL PARALLEL FLANGES ALSO RUNNING PARALLEL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS ARE FORMED BY THE RECESSES WHICH FLANGES FIT FLEXIBLY INTO A COMMON HOLE-LIKE CAVITY OF THE OTHER PROJECTION AND MAKE A FRICTION CONTACT. 